Burkina Faso, Niger take border dispute to court

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — African neighbors Burkina Faso and Niger are asking the United Nations' highest court to settle a long-simmering border dispute between the former French colonies.

The two countries have agreed to ask the court to set the border and pledged to abide by its decision. The case is seen as an example of how African nations can peacefully set disputed borders inherited from their former colonial rulers.

Burkina Faso argues that the border between the landlocked West African nations was established in 1927 but never marked, leading to ongoing doubts about the exact line.

Burkina Faso Minister for Territorial Affairs Jerome Bougouma told the International Court of Justice on Monday that his country's dispute with its eastern neighbor "could poison relations between the two countries" if left unsettled. It could be months until a decision.